New Mexico State bench giving Aggies depth

New Mexico State's Shunn Buchanan is one of the bench players that have given the Aggies depth this season. Buchanan and NMSU are at Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday.(Photo: Gary Mook/For the Sun-News)Buy Photo

LAS CRUCES - Chris Jans has always said he's going to play as many players who deserve to play and that he is confident in the bench play to help New Mexico State win games.

The first-year Aggie head coach's confidence in different players has grown as the season has gone along as the Aggies' depth has increased from eight to nine and now to 10, which has been key for NMSU.

"If we have 10 or 11 guys in a given year that deserve to play, we are going to play them," Jans said. "Having that confidence in nine and 10 makes a different because we can handle foul issues that we did against Seattle where Zach (Lofton) got two early fouls and we didn’t blink an eye. We actually played better in the first half score wise than we did in the second half. I am happy for those guys and happy for our team that way.”

Eli Chuha (9.6 points, 5.4 rebounds per game) has been huge off the bench in the sixth-man role and redshirt freshman Johnny McCants has given NMSU, who is at Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday, has played well, especially when post players have been in foul trouble.

In the backcourt, guards Shunn Buchanan and Keyon Jones have also given the Aggies valuable minutes when they are in the game. Neither Buchanan nor Jones turns the ball over very often.

Freshman Gabe Hadley, who's strength is 3-point shooting, has recently cracked the rotation since Western Athletic Conference play began, giving the Aggies a threat from behind the arc.

"It's a good thing that we can go deep," Buchanan said. "Coach has confidence in us that we can get the job done."

Buchanan, NMSU's backup point guard, is only averaging 2.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.2 steals and 14.4 minutes per game, but Jans said he trusts Buchanan and that Buchanan is the best vocal guy in practice.

"I have always been a leader in my life." Buchanan said. "I try to just bring it here and help my guys bring energy every day. I just try to run the team, knock down open shots, play defense and keep the energy up."

Jans said Buchanan, who has three starts this season, is an extension of the head coach and he understands how important his role is to the team.

"He knows what he needs to do when he gets in the game," Jans said. "He’s a really good defender, he’s pesky on the ball and he understands team defense. He organizes our team offensively, gets them in the right spots and he’s gotten better and better as the year progresses.”

Jones has made the most of his time in games as well, hitting big shots during the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii to help NMSU win games.

"My defense and ... my attitude," Jones said about what he has been working on. "Trying to work on those things so I can become a better player and a better person."

He's only averaging 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 13.6 minutes per game. But Jans said that Jones has been becoming a better defender.

"He’s got a bulldog mentality and he’s built, stout and strong," Jans said. "I don’t think he’s ever been characterized as a good defender. But he is getting better and better at that end of the floor, which is helping him get minutes. He’s not shooting the ball as well as he was earlier in the season. He can get it going sometimes.”

Adding depth is key for any team. And the Aggies have that depth.

Mark Rudi can be reahced at 575-541-5455, mrudi@lcsun-news.com or on Twitter @mrudi19.

Up next

What: Western Athletic Conference men's basketball

Who: New Mexico State (17-3, 5-0 WAC) at Missouri-Kansas City (6-16, 1-4 WAC)

When: 6 p.m., Saturday

Where: Kansas City, Missouri (Municipal Auditorium)

TV: None

Online: WAC Digital Network (WACSports.com)

Radio: KXPZ-FM 99.5 or the TuneIn Radio app (Search New Mexico St. Aggies)